By Bob Evans
Sports Editor
March 4, 2008
 |
| Junior Tyler Haugh scored 15 points in the Warriors Division II District loss to Meadowbrook last Wednesday at Steubenville. |
STEUBENVILLE - The weather was cold and icy outside.
The Warriors first-half shooting inside was just as cold as the weather outside.
Carrollton fell behind in the first half and trailed by as many as 17 points early in the third quarter before making a valiant comeback effort, only to fall short 63-58 to Meadowbrook in the Division II district championship game last Wednesday night at St. John Arena in Steubenville.
The second quarter was the key to the game. Carrollton led 15-13 going into the second frame, but was held to just five points in the period on a 2-for-13 shooting performance and trailed 32-20 at halftime.
The Colts extended their lead to 37-20 with six-minutes left in the period before Carrollton began its comeback.
Warrior sophomores Derek Dowell and A. J. Dalton scored on two straight positions to cut the Meadowbrook lead to 39-24. Then, junior Tyler Haugh and senior Hunter Borland hit back-to-back-to-back three-pointers to cut the Colt lead to six points at 39-33 with 2:33 left in the frame.
The two teams traded baskets the rest of the way with Meadowbrook holding a 45-39 lead going into the final frame.
Carrollton was able to close to within three points twice in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t get any closer.
Carrollton head coach Matt Voll was proud of the way his players handled themselves.
"They worked their tails off and left it all on the court tonight," Voll said of his charges. "They fought hard to the very end and never quit.
"The second quarter was a killer. The second half was more of an indication of how we played all year."
The Warriors end their season with an overall record of 7-17, which included winning six of their last seven games after starting the season at 1-16.
The Colts improved their record to 14-9 and were to face Dover in the regional semifinals Thursday night at Ohio University in Athens.
Carrollton could not come up with a way to stop 6-5 senior Philip Biggs.
Biggs, a first-team All-District pick, had a huge game for the Colts with a triple-double - 26 points, 16 rebounds and 11 blocked shots.
Meadowbrook head coach Keith Arnold knew it would be a tough game.
"They (Carrollto) are really a good team. They came on strong at the end of the year," he said. "We knew it would be a battle."
Carrollton was 24-of-67 shooting from the floor and just 4-of-10 from the free throw line.
Meadowbrook hit 25-of-41 action shots and 8-of-10 free throws.
Another key to the Warriors’ comeback was their full-court pressure defense that caused 18 Colt turnovers. Carrolton only had seven miscues of their own.
Meadowbrook held a 32-30 edge in rebounds. Senior Pierce Oaks led the Warriors on the boards with five.
Borland led the Warriors with 17 points, while Haugh added 15.
Jeramie Neff followed Briggs in scoring for the Colts with 16 points and Ethan Shriver chipped in with 13 points.
Meadowbrook 63, Carrolton 58
Steubenville Division II District final
MEADOWBROOK: Jeramie Neff 6 0-0 16, Philip Biggs 10 5-7 26, Brock Miracle 4 0-0 8, Ethan Shriver 5 3-3 13, Nick Hudson 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 8-10 63.
CARROLLTON : Tyler Haugh 6 0-0 15, John Lowdermilk 2 0-0 4, Pierce Oakes 1 1-2 3, Hunter Borland 7 0-0 17, Ben Mallette 1 0-0 2, Derek Dowell 4 2-6 10, A. J. Dalton 3 1-2 7. Totals 24 4-10 58.
MEADBROOK: 13 19 13 18 - 63
CARROLLTON: 15 5 19 19 - 58
Three-point goals - Jeramie Neff 4, Tyler Haugh 3, Hunter Borland 3, Philip Biggs. Fouls - Carrollton 14-11. Fouled out - none. Records: Meadowbrook 14-9, Carrollton 7-17. |
